Applying fastener



Feb. 20, 1934. as. RANDELL APPLYING FASTENER Filed llarchB, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 20, 1934. s. s. RANDELL 1,948,137

APPLYING F ASTENER Filed March 6, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J i y I7 W87ZZ07" ,mys.

1934- v s. s. RANDELL 1,948,187

APPLYING FASTENER Filed larch 6, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 75 a? frtfi'g f/ fiwel liar .Szmuwr' JR Mani Patented Feb. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i,94s,1s7

APPLYING FASTENER Sumner S. Randell, Quincy, Mass.

Application March 6, 1933. Serial No. 659,686

13 Claims.

elements, of the type arranged to snap into engagement when pressed together. In applying elements of this kind, it is customary first to punch a hole to receive the projecting portion of the fastener and then to insert the fastener element and secure it, asby a clenching operation. The task of applying these elements has been comparatively slow and tedious, largely because of the care required in so locating the inter-fitting parts relative to each other as to assure registry of these parts when the flap carrying one of them is brought across the closure slit in a position to close or seal the article. In order accurately to locate the cooperating, interfitting elements of the fasteners so as to assure good alignment of these elements, it has been considered necessary to form each of the holes individually and likewise to apply the elements individually.

Objects of the present invention are to provide for simplifying and increasing the speed of the operations of arranging and applying fasteners; to provide an improved method of applying fasteners as well as an improved machine for practicing the method; to provide a machine for these purposes having a simple and efiicient and yet strong and durable construction; and also to provide a machine of the class described having an improved construction and relative arrangement of parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine for applying fasteners to envelopes;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1;

I Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating the machine equipped with the fastener applying tools;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of an envelope with the flap open in position to be inserted in the machine; and i Fig. 7 is a plan view similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating the flap folded over in position to close or seal the envelope.

In the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration herein the machine comprises a frame member 10 adapted to be supported upon a table 11 and having a horizontally disposed arm 12 arranged to extend along the surface of the table to support and to have secured there-' to a horizontally disposed and substantially rectangular plate 13 which constitutes the bed member of the machine. The frame member 10 also has an arm'14 which extends upwardly and forwardly above the bed 13 and is provided at its .forward end with a passage for guiding a vertically reciprocable rod 16. A vertically movable head 15 is carried by this rod and comprises an upper bar member 17 secured directly to the rod 16 and extending above the bed 13 substantially from end to end of the latter. This head also includes the bar members 18 and 19 which are disposed transversely of the bar member 17 and secured to the latter, preferably by some releasable means such as the attaching bolts 21 and 22. Each of the transversely disposed bar members 18 and 19 is equipped with punch elements such as the elements 23 and 24 (Figs. 3 and 4). The element 23 comprises a body portion 26 having formed thereon abolt stud 27 which extends through the bar member 18 and is secured to the latter by an attaching nut 28. The lower end of the member 23 is provided with a reduced substantially cylindrical extension 29 adapted to project through a sheet of material for punching a hole therein. The punching element 24 is equipped with a bolt stud 2'7 which extends through the bar member 19 and is secured thereto by an attaching nut 28. The lower end of this punching element has a reduced cylindrical ex-' tension 29' which is also adapted to punch a hole in a sheet of material. Preferably the projection 29' is enclosed in a substantially cylindrical wall of elastic material 31, such as rubber.

Spaced support members 32 and 33 (Fig. 2) are secured to the bed 13 adjacent the rear edge thereof by attaching bolts 34. These support members are formed to extend transversely across the bed from the rear edge thereof forwardly, preferably in substantially parallel relation to the bed. These support members are formed with recessed portions 36 and 37 (Figs. 2 and 4) to provide a clearance for the punch elements 23. Near their forward ends the support members 32 and 33 are formed with sockets 38 arranged to cooperate with the extensions 29' in punching a hole through a sheet of material. The extreme forward end portions 39 (Fig. 4) of these members may have a double edge, convex taper to of these members in an article such as, an envelope. The bed-plate is also equipped with at least a pair of sockets 41 (Fig. 4) positioned to cooperate with the extensions 29 of the punch elements 23 in forming a hole in aflsheet of material.

Guide means are also provided for determining the position of or aligning an article, such as an envelope, with respect to the punch elements. These guide means are disposed adjacent the free forward ends of the members 32 and 33 and spaced sumciently therefrom to permit an envelope, for example, to be passed over the guide members. envelope as one of the longitudinal edges thereof may be in the form of angle clips 42 havinga horizontally disposed leg provided with slots 43 to .receive attaching bolts 44 for securing these members to the under side of the bed 13 (Fig. 4). It will be understood that the upwardly extending legs of these angle clips constitute abutment means which are engageable with the adjacent edge of the envelope for aligning the latter. The guiding means may also include a member 46 having a straight substantially vertical guiding wall 47 and a horizontally disposed and slotted extension 48 adapted to be secured releasably to the upper side of the bed, as by means of an attaching bolt 49.

Means for effecting relative movement of the head 15 and the punch elements 23 and 24 carried thereby toward the bed 13 and the support members 32 and 33 comprises a lever 51 (Fig. 3) mounted to pivot at 52 on the upper arm 14 of the frame, and pivotally connected at 53 to the upper end of the rod 16. This lever may be connected for manual or pedal operation in'any approved manner, as by means of a rod 54 which is pivotally connected to the rear end of the lever 51 and arranged to extend downwardly beneath the table 11 for operation by a treadle (not shown). The bar member 17 of the movable head is equipped with guide means in the form of vertically disposed rods 56 and 5'7 (Figs. 1 and 3) which are secured to the member 1'7 and are slidably received in guide holes such as the hole 58 illustrated in Fig. 3. Yieldable means, preferably in the form of a comparatively weak-leaf spring 59 are provided (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) for drawing an envelope taut over the support members 32 and 33. This spring is arranged to extend horizontally across the bed member 13 in a position substantially midway between the support members 32 and 33. The spring has its forward portion offset upwardly so as to tend normally to force the body portion of an envelope upwardly between the support members. The extreme forward or free end portion 61 of this spring may be turned downwardly to facilitate insertion of an envelope above the spring and onto the support members 32 and 33. The rear end of this spring may be attached to any fixed portion of the apparatus, as to the bed plate 13.

The illustrated machine is particularly adapted for applying fasteners to envelopes of the kind illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7, and comprisingsuperposed sheets of material arranged to provide a face or address side (not shown) and a rear side '71, these sides being joined by the fold edges '72, '73 and '74 which, as in any envelope, are comparatively stiff and rigid and therefore are not deformed under normal conditions of use by engagement with the relatively large fiat surfaces of the guiding members 42 and 46. An important The guides for one portion ofan 1,948,187 facilitate the insertion of the 'free forward ends feature of this invention resides in the improved method and also in the improved construction and relative arrangement of parts which makes it possible to guide and align an envelope or other article by engaging substantially rigid portions thereof as distinguished from the free edge of the flaps '75, as it is almost impossible even manually to hold the flap squarely against "a straight edge.

Moreover the flap may have a coating of adhesive material '75, but even without such a coating the flap commonly has'a tendency to curl or turn upwardly when placed in a machine, and therefore provides only a very unreliable and unsatisfactory guide edge. It will be understood that after the fasteners have been attached the envelope is folded over substantially along the line '76 (Fig. 6) to substantially the position shown in Fig. 7. Unless the fasteners are accurately spaced relative to each other and to the fold line '76, they will not come into alignment when the flap portion is folded over, and failure to secure accurate alignment of the cooperating fasteners renders the envelope unsuitable for use. This is one of the principal difficulties which the present invention has overcome, and in addition it provides for increased speed of applying the fasteners, as well as accuracy.

The apparatusthus far described herein is particularly adapted for. forming the fastener-receiving apertures or holes in the flap and in the rear side of an envelope. In using this device the envelope is arranged face downwardly with the flap '75 extended or in open position, as shown in Fig. 6, and the flap is pressed down above the horizontally disposed spring 59 and carried rearwardly beneath the support members 32 and 33 which pass within the envelope and beneath the rear side thereof. The spring 59 bears upwardly on the under side of the envelope and functions to hold the latter substantially fiat and taut across the support members 32 and 33. The guiding means comprising the members 46 and 42 are, of course, adjusted to the proper position for an envelope of the particular size being employed. Theenvelopehaving been passed over the support members 32 and 33 and above and beyond the guiding members 42 and 46 is then moved in i the opposite direction or forwardly of the machine until the fold-edge '72 of the envelope is brought against the members 42. This aligns the envelope and definitely locates the position of the apertures to be formed with respect to the comparatively rigid fold-edge '72 which engages the members 42. The envelope is next moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, until the fold-edge '73, forming one end thereof is brought firmly against the vertical wall 47 of the guiding member 46. It will be understood that these two movements may be performed manually as substantially one operation, and that as the guiding means 42 and 46 are effective for aligning the two edges '72 and '73 which are disposed angularly relatively to each other, the envelope is thus p0- siiioned accurately in a predetermined location beneath the punch elements 23 and 24. The lever 51 is then operatedto cause the elements 23 and 24 to descend and to form fastener-receiving apertures 77 and '77 in the rear side, and

apertures '78 and '78 in the flap of the envelope.

wise the fasteners would not register after the flap had been folded over.

The embodiment of the invention shown in bers 62, 63, 64 and 65, which are arranged to insert fasteners in the previously formed receiving apertures, and to secure the fasteners as by clenching the latter to the sheet material. In this form of the invention the support members 32 and 33 are equipped with a protecting means in the form of leaf springs 66 arranged to extend longitudinally of the support members 32 and 33 above the tool elements and then curve downwardly so as to prevent a fastener disposed on the element 65 from being dislodged by engagement with the free edge '79 of the envelope as the latter is passed over the members 32 and 33. The springs 66 may be secured to the support members in any approved manner, as by means of the attaching bolts 67.

A further important feature of the invention resides in the construction and relative arrangement of parts which provides for readily adapting a machine of this kind for use, for example, with envelopes of different sizes and/or on which the fasteners are to be disposed in different relative positions. It will be observed that the peculiar construction of the head 15 makes it possible to vary the distance longitudinally of the envelope between the apertures '77 and '77 and also between apertures '78 and '78 (Fig. 6) merely by spacing the bars 18 and '19 in the desired relative positions along the bar 1'7. This construction also provides for changing the location of these apertures relative to the fold line '76 and the longitudinal edges, as the edge-72 of the envelope. Preferably this is accomplished by providing in the bar 1'7 a plurality of holes 21' (Fig. 2) which may be arranged in rows extending longitudinally and transversely of the bar as shown, each hole, however, being adapted to receive the attaching bolt 21 of the bar 18 and being so located as to provide for a definite and predetermined spacing of the apertures '77 and '78 (or the fasteners) on a given envelope or other article to be operated upon. The bar 17 is also provided with holes 22' which are arranged in a similar manner, each of these holes being adapted to receive the attaching bolt 22 of bar 19 so as definitely to determine the relative positions of apertures '77 and '78 and/or the fasteners to be applied in corresponding positions. It will be seen that these changes in relative position may be effected without disturbing the setting of the punch elements, for example, on the bar 18, relative to each other so that the distance transversely of the envelope between the apertures or fasteners as between the apertures '77 and 78 will remain the same.

In order to provide for varying the aperture or fastener spacing transversely of the envelope. as between the apertures '77 and '78, either independently of or in conjunction with the change in longitudinal spacing, the bar 18 may be and preferably is provided with a plurality of holes 23' adapted to receive the bolt stud 2'7 of element 23, and with similar holes 24 adapted to receive bolt stud 2'7 of element 24, each of these holes being located to provide for a predetermined spacing of apertures or fasteners on an article of given dimensions. In a like manner the bar 19 may be provided with similarly arranged holes 23" and 24" for effecting a similar adjustment at this end of the machine. For cooperating with the punch elements when adjusted to these various predetermined positions, there are provided in the bed 13 a plurality of holes or sockets 41 which may be arranged in rows as shown, each of these sockets being positioned accurately to align with the element 23, for example, when the latter is in one of its predetermined adjusted positions. A plurality of holes or sockets 41' may be arranged in the bed 13 in a similar manner to cooperate with the rearmost punching element (not shown) of the bar 19. The support members 32 and 33 are provided with holes or sockets38 or 38' (Figs. 4 and 5) which may be arranged on each member in a row extending longitudinally thereof and transversely of the machine to cooperate with the forwardly disposed punch elements, as the elements 24 and 25 (Figs. 1 and 4) of the bars 18 and 19 respectively, when these elements are disposed in their various predetermined positions. Preferably these single rows of sockets 38 or 38'.are arranged to cooperate with their associated punch elements in various positions longitudinally of the bed 13by bodily rearrangement of the support members 32 and 33. For this purpose the bed 13 is provided along its rear longitudinal edge portion with series of holes 34' which may be arranged in rows extending longitudinally of the bed, as shown, each of the holes 34 being adapted to receive one of the attaching bolts 34. It will be observed that with this construction the cut-away or recessed portions 36 and 37(Figs. 2, 4 and 5) of the support members assure adequate clearance for the rearmost punch elements, as the element 23 or, bar 18, in all positions of adjustment.

while the elements 23, 24 and 25 are illustrated as elements of the type adapted to form the holes to receive the fastener elements, it will be observed that the apparatus will function in a similar manner when equipped, as shown in Fig. 5, with the elements 62, 63, 64 and 65 of the kind adapted to insert and clench a fastener element. This makes it possible to use the same machine for punching the holes and for securing the fastener elements merely by substituting for the elements 23, 24 and 25 (Fig. 4) other elements or heads of the well known type adapted to insert and secure the fastener elements. The term punch elements therefore is used herein and in the claims in its broad sense, and is intended to cover hole-forming elements as well as those which are adapted to insert or punch a fastener into a hole and/ or to secure the fastener element as by'clenching the latter to the article.

The illustrated machine is equipped for applying fasteners of the type disclosed in the patent to Hausner, No. 1,451,612, granted April 10, 1923; but it will be evident from this disclosure that this invention is useful generally as in applying other fasteners of the type comprising cooperating elements having interengageable parts.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention provides for forming and accurately spacing all of the fastener-receiving apertures and/or applying all of the fasteners to the flap as well as to the body portion of an article of the class described, and these objectives are accomplished by operations which are comparatively simple and which may be performed satisfactorily by unskilled operator. Moreover, the machine is so constructed and arranaged that it is readily adaptable to articles of various proportions without making precise measurements or requiring the exercise of any. particular effort on the part of the operator, and therelative arrangement of the parts assures reliable and ac-.- curate results for articles which may vary widely in dimensions and proportions. The invention also effects a considerable saving in time, as all of the fastener-receiving apertures in an article are formed by one operation, and likewise all of the fasteners for an article may be applied substantially simultaneously by a single operation. Furthermore, the machine is of comparatively simple and inexpensive construction.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose ofillustration only, and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bed for supporting portions of an article to be operated upon, a support member spaced above the bed and having a free end receivable within the closure slit of the article, the latter member being adapted to support other portions of the article, a plurality of punch elements disposed above the bed and the support member and spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of fastener elements from each other, means for securing the punch elements in a plurality of predetermined positions relative to each other, and guide means adjacent the free end of the support member for determining the position of the article disposed on the support member relative to the punch elements.

2. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bed for supporting portions of an article to be operated upon, a support member spaced above the bed and having a free end receivable within the closure slit of the article, this member being adapted to support other portions of the article, a plurality of punch elements disposed above the bed and the support member and spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of fastener elements from each other, means for eil'ecting relative movement of the aforementioned parts to advance the punch elements relatively toward the bed and the support member for operating upon portions of the article disposed on the bed and on the support member, and guide means ,adjacent the free end of the support member for determining the position of the article disposed on the support member relative to the punch elements.

3. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bed for supporting at least portions of one side of the article-to be operated upon, a support member spaced above the bed and having a free end receivable within the closure slit of the article, this member being adapted to support at least portions of the other side of the article, a plurality of punch elements disposed above the bed and the support member and spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of fastener elements from each other for operating upon portions of the article disposed on the bed and on the support member, means for holding the article substantially taut, and guide means adjacent the free end of the support member for determining the position of the article relative to the punch elements. I

4. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bed for supporting at least portions of one side of the article to be operated upon a support member spaced above the bed and having a free end receivable within the closure slit of the article, this member being adapted to support at least portions of the other side of the article, a plurality of punch elements disposed above the bed and the support member and spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of fastener elements from each other and for operating upon portions of the' article disposed on the bed and on the support member, means operable on the article intermediate the ends thereof for drawing the article substantially taut across the support member, and guide means adjacent the free end of the support member for determining the position of an article disposed on the support member relative to the punch elements.

5. Apparatus of the class described comprising a bed for supporting portions of the flap and of one side of an article to be operated upon, a support member spaced from the bed and having a free end receivable within the closure slit of the article for supporting portions of the other side thereof, a head normally spaced from the bed and the support member, a plurality of punch elements carried by the head and spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of fastener elements from each other on the flap and on said other side of the article, adjustable means for securing the punch elements in other predetermined relative positions, and means for efiecting relative movement of the head toward the bed and the support member for causing the punch elements to operate upon the article.

6. In a device for use in applying fastener elements to an article having a closure slit and a flap disposed on one side thereof, the combination of a support member having a free end receivable within the closure slit of the article, a plurality of punch elements spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of the fastener elements from each other, the punch elements being arranged substantially normal to the support member for operating on an article disposed thereon, and guide means adjacent the free end of the support member and comprising abutments engageable with angularly disposed edge portions of the article for determining the position of an article on the support member relative to the punch elements.

7. In a device for use in applying fastener elements to an article having a closure slit and a flap disposed on one side thereof, the combination of a support member having a free end receivable within the closure slit of the article, a plurality of punch elements spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of the fastener elements from each other, the punch elements being arranged substantially normalto the support member for operating on an article disposed thereon, and guide means adjacent the free end of the support member and spaced therefrom to permit the article to be passed over the support member, the guide means being engageable with a plurality of ex- .terior edges of the article for aligning the latter on the support member relative to the punch elements.

8. In a device for use in applying fastener elements to an article having a closure slit and a flap disposed on one side thereof, the combination of spaced support members having free end portions receivable within the closure slit of the article for supporting the side thereof which is adapted to be partially covered by the flap, yieldable means disposed between these support members for drawing the article substantially taut thereover, means for supporting the flap in open position, a plurality of punch elements spaced relative to each other in positions corresponding to the desired spacing of the fastener elements from each other on the flap and on the side of the article adapted to be .1partially covered thereby, the punch elements being arranged substantially normal to the support members and to the flap supporting means for operating upon the article disposed thereon, and

guide means adjacent the free end of the support.

members for aligning the article relative to the punch elements.

9. In a device for use in applying fastener elements to the rear side of an envelope and to the under side of the flap thereof, the combination of a bed for supporting at least portions of the face side of the envelope and of the flap, support members spaced from the bed and from each other and having free end portions receivable within the envelope for supporting at least portions of the rear side thereof, a head comprising a plurality of members disposed transversely of each other, means for securing these members together in a plurality of predetermined positions, punch elements carried by at least some of these members for operating upon the flap and upon the rear side of the envelope, abutment means mounted on the bed and engageable with the fold edges of the envelope for aligning the latter relative to the punch elements, and means for effecting relative movement between the head and the bed and support members to cause the punch elements to operate upon the envelope.

10. In a machine adapted to operate upon an article comprising superposed sheets of material with one sheet extending beyond the other to provide a flap portion for the article, the combination of upper and lower members movable relatively toward and from each other for operating upon the interposed article, punch elements carried by one of these members and cooperating elements carried by the other of these members, the latter member comprising means for supporting the superposed sheets of material of the article in spaced relation to provide for operating separately upon one sheet and upon the flap portion of the other sheet, means for securing the punch elements of said one member in a plurality of predetermined relative positions, and means for securing alignment of the cooperating elements of said other member with said punch elements when the latter are disposed in said predetermined relative positions.

11. In a machine adapted to operate upon an article comprising superposed sheets of material with one sheet extending beyond the other to provide a flap portion for the article, the combination of upper and lower members movable relatively toward and from each other for operating upon the interposed article, punch elements carried by one of these members and cooperating elements carried by the'other of these members, the latter member comprising means for supporting the superposed sheets of material of the article in spaced relation to provide for operating separately upon one sheet and upon the flap portion of the other sheet, means for securing the punch elements of said one member in a plurality'of predetermined positions relative to said other member, and means providing for alignment of the cooperating elements of said other member with said punch elements-when the latter are disposed in said predetermined relative positions.

12. In a machine adapted to operate upon an article comprising superposed sheets of material with one sheet extending beyond the other to provide a flap portion for the article, the combination of upper and lower members movable relatively toward and from each other for operating upon the interposed article, punch elements carried by one of these members and cooperating elements carried by the other of these members, the latter member comprising means for supporting the superposed sheets of material of the article in spaced relation to provide for operating separately upon one sheet and upon the flap portion of the other sheet, means for securing the punch elements of said one member in a plurality of predetermined positions relative to each other and to said other member, and means providing for alignment of the cooperating elements of said other member with said punch elements when the latter are disposed in said predetermined relative positions.

13. In a machine adapted to operate upon an article comprising superposed sheets of material with one sheet extending beyond the other to provide a flap portion for the article, the combination of upper and lower members movable relatively toward and from each other for operating upon the interposed article, punch elements carried by one of these members and spaced across the latter in at least two directions, and means for maintaining the spacing of the punch elements in one of these directions while changing the spacing thereof in the other direction to a plurality of difierent pre- 13@ determined spaced relationships, the other of these members having holes spaced for cooperating with the punch elements in each of said predetermined spaced relationships.

SUIVINER S. RANDELL. 

